"I would not classify my Offshore Passage Making(OPM) experience as "fun". However, if you want to take your skills to the next level, this is the class. It's Coastal Passage Making on steroids. OPM isn't only about demonstrating you're a competent skipper, it is an education. An education in preparation, prevention, and problem solving. OPM was an adventure."

Deb Fehr - US SAILING Certified through Offshore Passage Making

"In 2007, Club Nautique was the foundation block for one of my biggest dreams; own a boat and prepare myself to take a long passage from San Francisco to Sao Paulo, Brazil. Today, I got my Offshore Passage Makeing certification. It is really important to me to know that I had Club Nautique and its staff behind me in my learning process. It gave me confidence in myself and brought my sailing skills to the level I needed for such trip."

Ricardo Poli - US SAILING Certified through Offshore Passage Making

"I had been sailing with my wife for 29 years when we started the basic keel boat series in about 2002. Our experience to that point was in dinghies for fun and racing. Our training was only a Red Cross sailing and water safety course taught in Sunfish.( surfboard with a sail). We continued together through the Basic Cruising series and Then I went forward through the rest of the classes from 2003 to 2010 when I received the OPM certification.

My primary motivation was to increase my knowledge and gain valuable on the water experience in larger boats in coastal and off shore situations so my wife and I could eventually do charters. In 2007 we purchased a 42 foot cruising sailboat to do costal type cruising to mexico and where ever. I felt that even if I was only going to do charter or coastal type cruising that the Offshore Passage Making experience was valuable because you never know when a coastal situation might turn into an extended off shore experience as you wait for weather/seas states to improve to get back to port as you try to hold off from a lee shore.

My wife and I both felt that even though we were raised as kids around lakes and boats and had been around the water that you can never have enough experience and training and never quit learning. During this time we also maintained our CPR/Medic certifications and I additionally obtained my USCG 50 GRT Master license. Going through the OPM instruction helps by real hands on experience to plan and execute all aspects of cruising, including navigation, meals , crew rotations as well as maintenance and just general housekeeping. In reality during my OPM cruise we actually lost the ability to steer with the wheel (it broke off at the spoke hub) and had to use the emergency tiller for 2 days to get back home from over a 150 miles off shore in near gale conditions. We took the boat all the way back to the dock in Sausalito. This was a real confidence builder. Gaining experience from professionals in a somewhat controlled setting is invaluable. These courses , especially the OPM, have helped us set up and sail charter boats as well as our own boat in the channel Islands, St. Lucia and Out the gate in the Gulf of the Farallons. I will probably never circumnavigate but I feel the OPM course was more than worth the cost and effort as we look forward to doing the Ha Ha and cruising the Sea of Cortez later this year for the first time."

Jim Ellis - US SAILING Certified through Offshore Passage Making

"I wanted to train with the best instructors and sail on the best fleet on the Bay, in a comprehensive program. Club Nautique gave me confidence and experience. They deliver on their promise of long term success."

Tracy Reigleman - US SAILING Certified through Coastal Passage Making

"After 20 years adrift I joined Club Nautique and learned just how much I didn't know about sailing. I thoroughly enjoyed my BK, BC and BBC training. The instructors were first rate. I have fulfilled my dream of being able to charter locally and worldwide and take great pleasure participating in club activities with my fellow 'sailaholics'."

Rod Witel - US SAILING Certified through Bareboat. USCG 50 Masters. US SAILING Certified Trainer. In 2011 Rod became a Club Nautique instructor.